New for the 2011 Cass County Fair is a $10 entry fee per exhibitor for all beef cattle.

This fee will be collected at the mandatory validation in December for steers and at the spring validation for beef feeders. The fee for beef breeding stock will be due with their registration form by May 1.

Since the maximum weight for market steers will be 1,600 pounds in order to sell in the auction starting in 2012, exhibitors are strongly encouraged to adopt that weight limit for the 2011 fair. For the 2011 Cass County Fair, exhibitors may show two market beef animals, of which only one may sell through the livestock auction.

Market steers must be owned and in the possession of the exhibitor no later than Dec. 1. All market steers are to be tagged and weighed at the mandatory validation on Dec. 4 at 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. or Dec. 5 from noon to 3 p.m. at the Cass County Fairgrounds.

Enter the fairgrounds through the south gate off of M-60 on First Street and line up along the back of the track; steers will be weighed on the west end of the horse barn at the northeast end of the track.

A validation form will be submitted for each exhibitor.

Weight recorded during validation will be the starting weight for all market steers for the rate-of-gain competition. Exhibitors wishing to enter the Cass County Beef Market Steer Born and Raised competition will be required to submit an entry form during validation. Forms are available at the MSU Extension office or at msu.casscountymi.org/4HYouth/4HDocumentsandForms.aspx.

The fair board is asking for any person interested in being the 2011 Dog Superintendent to fill out an application form and submit it prior to Jan. 4 to the fair board. The superintendent requirements and application form are available on the fair website, casscountyfair.com, or contact the MSU Extension office at (269) 445-4438.